MDC MP MASAITI ARREST

UNCLAS HARARE 000693 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER, TEITELBAUM LONDON FOR C. GURNEY PARIS FOR C. NEARY NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ZI MDC SUBJECT: MDC MP MASAITI ARREST REF: A. HARARE 682 ¶B. HARARE 553 ¶1. (U) MDC Member of Parliament for Mutasa Evelyn Masaiti was arrested in Mabvuku on April 17 on her way back from her constituency for allegedly looting a shop owned by acting Harare Mayor Sekesayi Makwavarara. Masaiti told poloff on April 22 that she was driving from her constituency in Manicaland back to Harare to attend the April 19 Independence Day celebration when she was stopped by riot police in Mabvuku. The police quizzed her about a soccer match the MDC had organized in Mabvuku and, despite her protestations arrested her. While she was in custody, Makwavarara's shop in Mabvukhu was looted. Masaiti said she, her driver, and another companion were beaten with batons by the riot police while they were in police custody. The accused were transfered to Harare Central Prison on April 19. ¶2. (U) Masaiti understood she was to be charged in the looting and was scheduled to appear in court on April 20, but the date was changed to April 21 after the State realized Masaiti was in police custody during the looting. Masaiti was subsequently charged with organizing a football match for MDC supporters as a way of inciting the youth to protest against the death of an MDC supporter in last month's Zengeza by-election. She was released on Z$100,000 bail April 21 and is scheduled to appear in court on April 29. ¶3. Comment: (U) In its comprehensive campaign to steamroll the weakened opposition, ZANU-PF appears to be stepping up its harassment of MDC MPs in the run-up to the 2005 Parliamentary elections. The MDC parliamentary membership generally has been a heavily persecuted lot--more than half have been arrested during their tenure, and most have been physically assaulted and had their property destroyed. In an apparent quid pro quo for MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai's attendance of President Mugabe's opening of Parliament in July 2003, attacks on opposition MPs ceased during the second half of last hear. However, during the last four months, three MPs--Masaiti, Roy Bennet (Ref A),Ben Tumbare-Mutasa (Ref B)--have been arrested or harassed. End Comment. SULLIVAN